The Magu Program by Hartle Matt

Author:Hartle, Matt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hartle Films Publishing
Published: 2023-09-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chiya stepped quickly through the street, moving with the flow of people. She would be late if she didn't hurry, and she was never late for her son. He worried easily, likely a mild form of separation anxiety. How many issues had their departure from the simulacrum caused Wren? It was hard to tell—he was a child devoted to schedules, and this had been a severe disruption. And what of his life before her? He was young, but there would be memories. It bothered her to know so little of his past. She was sure there had been burdens and hardships—the possibilities weighed heavily on her.

At the crosswalk, Chiya veered to the left instead of the path she usually chose leading right. Ashiro had warned her against following established routines. In truth, this whole situation terrified her, but it was her private fear. As a mother, she had to be pragmatic. Her fears did little to protect her or comfort those around her. She needed to be strong, confident, and cautious.

Who had those people been back at the temple, the ones Ashiro had so effortlessly cut through? Opportunistic thugs? She knew she was easy prey but had little worth taking. Of course, organ harvesting—skin, bone, any organic matter really, was of exceptional value these days.

She knew that wasn't it—she had to accept the truth. They had come for her and Wren, been hunting them all these long months since they'd escaped. She'd done her best to stay alert, to hover in the shadows and remain hidden. Eventually, they would find her—she had known that all along, had just hoped it would take longer, give her time to figure out their next move. In many ways, Base City was a perfect place to hide. With the lack of surveillance and the crush of people, they were like grains of sand in the desert. But the Corporation was not to be underestimated. She could only guess the resources they would expend to find her and the child. She was incredibly fortunate that Ashiro had been there.

Ashiro—at first, he had needed her, and now she and Wren would rely on him. Though she could not predict the future, she could tell their forward paths were twisted together. He was incredibly powerful, capable, and outfitted for situations like this. Yet, he was also fragile, a fruit rotting from the inside. She should tell him, must tell him. His deteriorating body was a ticking time bomb; she was confident the traces of degradation she had found were only symptoms of a more significant system collapse. He had a right to know, to decide how he would use the time he had left—but she had to weigh that against her son's fate. They needed Ashiro desperately. If he knew the truth, who could say what he might do? As a mother, her first obligation was to her son. She didn't know if Ashiro would understand that, but she hoped he would.

Two more blocks and she would be at the school.

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